2001. Use of Azotobacter chroococcum as potentially useful in agricultural application. Annals of Microbiol.51

Abstract – Great many papers on this genus have dealt with its significance in plant nutri-tion and its contribution to soil fertility. Because of this and for better clarity, this paper has been divided into three sections: azotobacteria and their natural habitat (the soil and plant); production of growth substances and their effects on the plant; and possibility of using azo-tobacteria in agriculture. As soil bacteria, azotobacteria cannot be studied without their nat-ural environment. In Yugoslavia, research on azotobacteria dates back to 1956. The main focus of study was the soil as the natural habitat of these bacteria. Bacteria of the Azoto-bacter genus synthesizes auxins, cytokinins, and GA–like substances, and these growth materials are the primary substances controlling the enhanced growth. These hormonal substances, which originate from the rhizosphere or root surface, affect the growth of the closely associated higher plants. In order to guarantee the high effectiveness of inoculants and microbiological fertilizers it is necessary to find the compatible partners, i.e. a particu-lar plant genotype and a particular azotobacteria strain that will form a good association. Key words: Azotobacter chroococcum, microbiological fertilizer, plant, soil